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Page 8 April 2016 The Catoctin Banner Newspaper www.TheCatoctinBanner.com Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com
C o m m u n i t y news
Beth Watson Retires, Thurmont Thespians to End
James Rada, Jr.
Beth Watson is ready for her final they couldn’t get in school.” She
bow, and when the curtain drops on Pictured from left are estimates that approximately three
the final performance of Footloose Nathan Kopit, Emily Cofer, hundred children have attended the
Beth Watson, and Rachel
in the fall, the Thurmont Thespians Johnson. Nathan, Emily, and summer workshops for children
twenty-year run will come to an end. Rachel participated in the held every year. Some children came
“It’s time,” said Watson, adding, Thurmont Thespians summer back summer after summer and fell
“even if it’s going to be hard to give program and had lead roles in love with the theater. Others only
in the adult production of
up something you love so much.” The Fantasticks in March attended one summer and decided
Watson and her husband, 2016. Emily and Rachel that it wasn’t for them.
Spence, moved to the Thurmont were both in productions as However, keeping the program
preschoolers, as they had
area in 1993 and formed the older siblings in the program. running requires a lot of time and
Thurmont Thespians a few years effort. It also requires a lot of
later. It originally began as an fundraising, which she never liked
organization to train and inspire doing.
young actors and allow them to Once she retires, Watson said the
perform. It eventually expanded first thing she is going to do is rest
into an organization for adults that and relax.
performed multiple shows each year Beth Watson is shown
at the Thurmont American Legion. teaching students in
During that time, it became a the Thurmont Thespians
Program, her main goal
cultural staple for Thurmont. always being to teach
“We both founded it, but it was children to love the
his genius that got it going, not theater.
mine,” expressed Watson.
Watson retired after directing
The Fantasticks in March. The Courtesy Photos
performance of Footloose in the
fall will be directed by Rosalyn that actually went on tour to middle of the summer. She knew
Smaldone, who actually came up Washington, D.C. the author of the book and was
through the Thurmont Thespians Although Watson still loves the able to tie in author events with the
program, learning her skills first in stage, she is eighty-one years old performances.
the children’s workshops, then as and feels it is time to quit. Also, she She has acted in, as well as
an actor with the group, and now points out that managing the group directed, shows. She has even been
finally as a director. has been a heavier burden to run able to perform with family. She and
“I think it speaks well for the since Spence died in 2014. Spence acted together in Gin Game
program that our last production Watson’s love of the stage is and Love Letters, and she performed
is directed by someone who came not surprising. She and Spence met with her daughter in Grace and
through our program,” Watson said. onstage playing opposite each other Glorie.
When Footloose closes, so will in a dinner theater in Wilmington, Her main goal with the Support Your
the Thurmont Thespians. It will be Delaware, in 1980. They were Thurmont Thespians, though, has Community!
the sixty-fifth performance staged by married thirty years. always been to teach children to
the theater group. Out of the sixty-five shows love the theater.
“I’m really proud that we the Thurmont Thespians have “I love the theater, and I think Pratronize
produced three original musicals performed, her favorite production it teaches kids a lot,” Watson said. Your Local
over the years,” Watson said. is The Best Christmas Pageant “The Thurmont Thespians was Businesses
This includes a play about autism Ever, which they produced in the also able to provide something
C o m m u n i t y news
Beth Watson Retires, Thurmont Thespians to End
James Rada, Jr.
Beth Watson is ready for her final they couldn’t get in school.” She
bow, and when the curtain drops on Pictured from left are estimates that approximately three
the final performance of Footloose Nathan Kopit, Emily Cofer, hundred children have attended the
Beth Watson, and Rachel
in the fall, the Thurmont Thespians Johnson. Nathan, Emily, and summer workshops for children
twenty-year run will come to an end. Rachel participated in the held every year. Some children came
“It’s time,” said Watson, adding, Thurmont Thespians summer back summer after summer and fell
“even if it’s going to be hard to give program and had lead roles in love with the theater. Others only
in the adult production of
up something you love so much.” The Fantasticks in March attended one summer and decided
Watson and her husband, 2016. Emily and Rachel that it wasn’t for them.
Spence, moved to the Thurmont were both in productions as However, keeping the program
preschoolers, as they had
area in 1993 and formed the older siblings in the program. running requires a lot of time and
Thurmont Thespians a few years effort. It also requires a lot of
later. It originally began as an fundraising, which she never liked
organization to train and inspire doing.
young actors and allow them to Once she retires, Watson said the
perform. It eventually expanded first thing she is going to do is rest
into an organization for adults that and relax.
performed multiple shows each year Beth Watson is shown
at the Thurmont American Legion. teaching students in
During that time, it became a the Thurmont Thespians
Program, her main goal
cultural staple for Thurmont. always being to teach
“We both founded it, but it was children to love the
his genius that got it going, not theater.
mine,” expressed Watson.
Watson retired after directing
The Fantasticks in March. The Courtesy Photos
performance of Footloose in the
fall will be directed by Rosalyn that actually went on tour to middle of the summer. She knew
Smaldone, who actually came up Washington, D.C. the author of the book and was
through the Thurmont Thespians Although Watson still loves the able to tie in author events with the
program, learning her skills first in stage, she is eighty-one years old performances.
the children’s workshops, then as and feels it is time to quit. Also, she She has acted in, as well as
an actor with the group, and now points out that managing the group directed, shows. She has even been
finally as a director. has been a heavier burden to run able to perform with family. She and
“I think it speaks well for the since Spence died in 2014. Spence acted together in Gin Game
program that our last production Watson’s love of the stage is and Love Letters, and she performed
is directed by someone who came not surprising. She and Spence met with her daughter in Grace and
through our program,” Watson said. onstage playing opposite each other Glorie.
When Footloose closes, so will in a dinner theater in Wilmington, Her main goal with the Support Your
the Thurmont Thespians. It will be Delaware, in 1980. They were Thurmont Thespians, though, has Community!
the sixty-fifth performance staged by married thirty years. always been to teach children to
the theater group. Out of the sixty-five shows love the theater.
“I’m really proud that we the Thurmont Thespians have “I love the theater, and I think Pratronize
produced three original musicals performed, her favorite production it teaches kids a lot,” Watson said. Your Local
over the years,” Watson said. is The Best Christmas Pageant “The Thurmont Thespians was Businesses
This includes a play about autism Ever, which they produced in the also able to provide something
